October 2013
Taking The Music To The People
In the area where we produce our
magazine, while we have a huge family of music players and fans, it seems that there is reoccurring news about the closing of yet another local music store. Of course, the recent economic distress certainly has taken its toll on local businesses; however, that fact is not the whole story. A combination of big box retailers and www.Idonotbuylocal.com internet purchases cuts into the razor thin profit margin of mom and pop music stores. Maybe the business model itself is changing. Recently, at the Red Wing Roots music festival I happened upon a vendor tent that reminded me of a miniature music store. The vendor’s name was the Carolina Old Time Instrument Supply. On display were a selection of entry-level string music instruments and an array of accessories that players always need. Now a vendor at a music festival selling music instruments is not unique but the usual fare is high-end custom instruments often to be made as ordered. This operation seemed to be different so I stopped to ask some questions.
used right where purchased regardless of the environment. Further, she believes that she will make sales here to folks that would not make the trip downtown to buy the same items after they get back home from the festival.
Making Her Point
Here is how she states her case on her website, “Making music is a time-honored pastime. It doesn’t matter what age you pick up that first instrument—when that first note is played, there is new music in the cosmos. As with any worthwhile endeavor, it takes desire, commitment, practice, and calluses to become a musician. The whole
By Edward Tutwiler
purpose of Carolina Old Time is to put a new instrument in the eager hands of as many new players as possible. The quality and playability of beginner and mid-level instruments has improved greatly over the years. Prices offered are the lowest allowed by the manufacturers. Each instrument offered has been thoughtfully selected to be the best in its class in terms of “best bang for your buck” in a given price range. All are individually inspected, tuned, and properly set up.”
made in hopes that new music makers will purchase the basic tools they need to get started making music. She stocks her store as a franchise from the warehouse of Jackson’s Music, a big Atlanta, GA retailer, and replenishes her wares as she moves from festival to festival. It is certainly a new business model and even Ms. Burton does not yet know how successful she will be at this. Nevertheless, she is up-beat and enthusiastic and looking forward to the remaining festival season.
You can see that Burton is taking the music making equipment to the places where music is being
Check out the Carolina Old Time Instrument Supply’s web site at www.carolinaoldtime.com
.
One Of The Ways
The Carolina Old Time Instrument Supply tent is the brain-child of Ms. Vicki Burton. This is a new venture for her, and she’s trying it out this summer at some music festivals along the VA, NC music trail. She has the idea that if the fans and followers are going to the festivals and camping there as many fans do; they might be in the market for inexpensive instruments that they can use in the campground jams that go on at every festival. Maybe their children might be inspired by a performance and want an instrument of their own to use at the morning workshops that are a festival happening. Her thinking is that an instrument that can be purchased cheaply and just down the lane from where the stages are located will be inviting to the festival goers. Plus, the fact that while serviceable, these instruments are inexpensive enough that they can be
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